Danville Express

Community Pulse - August 22, 2008

Evading an officer ends in multiple charges

Danville police chased a drunken driver, an 18-year-old Danville man, up San Ramon Valley Boulevard at 11:15 p.m., Friday, Aug. 8. The driver had a 16-year-old girl from San Ramon in the car with him and was arrested on felony charges of evading a police officer and child endangerment.

The police officer was driving south on San Ramon Valley Boulevard when he first noticed the car on the side of road, just over the San Ramon city border, said Lt. Mark Williams.

When the officer went to further investigate, the vehicle made a quick U-turn and sped off going north back into Danville. The officer turned on his lights and siren, and a chase ensued.

The driver turned off the boulevard into a housing development in the Ridgeland Circle/Fountain Springs area, and the police officer caught up with him.

"He doubled the speed limit at one point and was in a residential area, and he also ran the traffic light at Ridgeland Circle and the boulevard," said Williams. "When you run from the police when they have their lights and sirens on, and it puts the public in great danger; it makes it a felony."

Both the driver and passenger were found to be under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, evading police and child endangerment. The girl was released to her parents.

After his arrest the driver told police that when he saw the cop car, he got scared because he had been drinking alcohol and he took off to try to hide from police.